Web sites connect busy students with flexible jobs

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By Elise Anderson and William Ehart THE WASHINGTON TIMES

"I was looking for something that didn't take a ton of time and wasn't too stressful … I posted my profile on the site and listed that I was interested in child care, and the site matched me with a list of employers in need of my service,"she said.

Miss Heiner was able to state what kind of hours she could work as well as how far she was willing to commute, so that the job wouldn't interfere with her classes.

"It was convenient because it's hard to get jobs on campus, and with other part-time jobs, hours are less flexible and it's hard if, like me, you can only work one or two days a week," she said.

She ultimately found a position only a short walk from campus, and because of this convenience, "even though I baby-sat during the week, on weekends I could also be flexible according to [the family's] schedule if they needed me on occasional Saturday afternoons for a couple of hours. … So it was nice for both of us to have that option," she said.

Cathy McCarthy, senior vice president of marketing at SnagAJob.com, said the hourly employment the site specializes in is perfect for many students.

"It's typically a good match for students because they need flexibility, and hourly jobs can provide that flexibility to them with different positions and shift durations," she said.

"Our site has [a variety of positions] where the majority don't require advanced degrees. So a student would have the qualifications, versus other job sites which may only post jobs that require advanced degrees."

Through SnagAJob.com, a student can fill out the free application once, and send it to as many employers as he chooses, optimizing his exposure without having to visit each business to see if it is hiring.

At their best, student job services can be as much about learning and career choices as making money.

"A lot of students look for jobs just for a paycheck, but you can get a job that is fun and adds to your resume," said Mr. Panda of Student Employment Council. "It can help you find the ideal job when you graduate."

For Mr. Fuller, his internship at Aflac taught an important lesson that students focused on one particular field can miss.

"It showed me how internships outside your major can be applied to your major," he said.